Driving mechanism



March 3, 1942. J, QAKLEY I2,274,931

DRIVING MECHANISM Filed July 16, 1941 g2; fa

INVENTOR.

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Patented Mar. 3, 1942 2,274,931 DRIVING MECHANISll/I John Oakley,

Springeld, Mass., Perkins Machine and Gear Company,

assignor to West Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application July 16, 1941, Serial No. 492,621

(Cl, Vel- 78) 3 Claims.

My invention relates to operating mechanisms where it isdesired to oscillate a shaft back and forth.

The principal objects of the invention are directed to the provision of an operating mechanism for oscillating a shaft or the like back and forth, which mechanism is characterized by adjustable means to oscillate the shaft through differentv predetermined angles.

As a special feature of the invention, the novel operating mechanism includes a plurality of driving members and of driven members which are independently and positively engageable and for selectively engaging the same so as to obtain different definite pretermined oscillating effects. Y As another special feature of my invention, the engageable meansincludes toothed members and means for positively holding the same in operative relation whereby the shaft is positively oscillated through different definite angles.

The novel features of the invention are adapted for broad application wherever it is desired to oscillate a shaft or the like, but for purposes of disclosure it will be described in connection with a paddle or agitator shaft of a washing machine.

With the foregoing and various other novel features and advantages and other objects of my invention as will become more apparent as the description proceeds, the invention consists in certain novel features of construction and in the combination and arrangement `of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed and more fully described and referred to in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. l is an inverted plan view of a tub of a washing machine having the novel operating or driving mechanism of the invention associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevational view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a sectional elevational view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional elevational line 4-4 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the cam member of the invention; and

Fig. 6 is an elevational View of means for urging the toothed members out of engagement.

Referring now to the drawing more in detail, wherein similar reference figures refer to like parts, and referring more particularly to the preferred form of my invention which has been selected for illustrative purposes, I have shown in Fig. l a lower wall 2 of a washing machine tub view on the 4. A shaft 6 extends through the bottom wall 2 into the tub and it is journalled in a casing 8. The shaft in the tub carries the usual agitator or paddle, which is not shown, said shaft and paddle being positively agitated by the mechanism of my invention.

The casing is of a usual construction and is adapted for enclosing the mechanism of the invention. It has a cover Il) secured thereto and the casing may be secured to the tub in any desired manner. A shaft l2 journalled for rotation in a side of the casing is connected by a coupling I4 to a shaft I6 of a motor I8. The motor I8 is carried by a support 20'which is associated with the casing, substantially as shown.

A shaft 22, having its lower portion journalled in the casing extends upwardly of the tub for driving a wringer. It is driven by means of a worm wheel 24, with which is engaged a worm 2G of the shaft l2. As the shaft l2 is rotated, the shaft 22 and the Worm gear 24 are also rotated. y

The worm gear may be termed the propeller or rotatable member.

A plurality of driven members are fixed on the shaft 6 which consist of gears 26', 28 and 30 of different diameters. A plurality of driving mem bers arepivotally connected at 32 to the rotatable member 24 which consist of racks 34, 3B and 38 adapted to engage the aforesaid gears. As a rack is engaged with a gear, the said gearan'd shaft 6 are positively oscillated back and forth by the rack which is reoiprocated by the member 24.

According to the particular rack and gear engaged, the extent or angle of oscillation depends. Hence to obtain a certain definite predetermined angle of oscillation a certain rack and gear may be engaged.

The pivotal connection 32 between the racks and member 24 may take various forms as may be desired.

In the form of the invention shown, a stud 40 is fixed in member 24, a hub 42 of rack 34 is journalled thereon and on this hub 42 is journalled a hub 44 of rack 36. On the latter hub rack 38 is journalled, with a washer 46 overlying the hubs and nuts or the like 48 on the stud overlying said Washer.

A bracket 50 is secured to the housing and in it are slidable rack actuators 52, 54 and 56 adapted to engage the rear sides of the racks and positively hold them in engagement with their respective gears.

A cam member 62 fixed on an oscillatable shaft B2 rotatable in the housing has elevated cam surfaces 64, 66 and 68 for engaging the rear ends of the rack actuators. The shaft 62 may be oscillated in one direction or the other so that ani7 cam surface may engage the rear end of a rack actuator and move it forwardly so that a rack is engaged with its respective gear.

By positioning the cam member in a certain position, a certain cam actuator is caused to act on its rack and thereby according to the particular gear which is operatively engaged by a rack the shaft I2 is caused to be positively oscillated back and forth through a definite predetermined angle. Obviously other means than the cam and actuators may be employed for selectively moving and positively holding the racks in engagement with the gears.

Means for urging the racks away from the gears is also preferably provided. In the form of the invention said means may include a spring 'I4 having an end secured to the casing and separate spring elements 16, and 16 bearing on the racks, or there may be separate springs one for each rack. In some cases the spring or equivalent means may not be necessary and may be eliminated for the reason that when the rotatable member rotates in a certain direction the racks may tend to move out of engagement with the gears except when held in engagement.

The means described facilitates selective engagement of the racks and gears thereby to obtain the desired oscillating effect which in any eventis a certain angle of oscillation with positive operating engagement and denite angle of oscillation.

The shaft 62 may be `oscillated in various ways but in the form of the invention shown an extension 63 of the shaft extends upwardly at a side of the tub 4 and has a manually engageable member 65.

A bearing 8U in which shaft 62 is journalled is secured to the tub and has a serrated inner face and a member 82, slidable but non-rotatable on the shaft by means of a pin 84 and slot 86, also has a serrated face. The said member 821 is spring pressed towards member 80 by a spring 8l' which is disposed between said member 82 and a washer 88 held on the shaft 62 by a pin 90. As the shaft 60 is turned the serrations of members 80 and 32 pass by one another and these hold shaft 62 against accidental turning.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. Hence, the present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects merely as being illustrative and not as being restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all modifications and variations as fall within the meaning and purview `and range of equivalency of the appended claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What it is desired to claim and secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. The combination of an oscillatable shaft and a rotatable member with means for oscillating the former by the latter comprising, a plurality of driven gears of diierent diameters on said oscillatable shaft, a plurality of driving members with ends pivoted to the rotatable member and having free ends each provided with teeth for operatively engaging the teeth of one of said gears, and means for selectively engaging and holding the teeth of any one of said driving members in engagement with the teeth of its respective gear.

2. The combination of an oscillatable shaft and a rotatable member with means for oscillating the former by the latter comprising, a plurality of gears of different diameter on said oscillatable shaft, a driving member for each of said gears having an end pivoted to said rotatable member and a free toothed end for engaging and disengaging the teeth of its respective gear, and means for selectively acting on any one of said driving members to hold the same in operative engagement with its respective gear and to hold the other driving members out of engagement with their respective gears.

3. The combination of an oscillatable shaft and a rotatable member with means for oscillating the former by the latter comprising, a plurality of gears of different diameter on said oscillatable shaft, a driving member for each -of said gears having an end pivoted to said rotatable member and a free toothed end for engaging and disengaging the teeth of its respective gear, and means for selectively acting on any one of said driving members to hold the same in operative engagement with its respective gear, and means acting on said driving members tending to move them out of engagement with their respective gears whereby all of said members except that one acted upon by the selective means are held out of engagement.

` JOHN OAKLEY. 

